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Air Cleaners (1969 R-Code)

During the 1969 and 1970 model years there were two basic air cleaners available for your Cobra Jet Mustang: Q-code cars received an enclosed air cleaner with a chromed lid (this same lid was also used on Boss 302 Mustangs), and R-code cars received a special "ram air" air cleaner with an air scoop that protruded through a hole in the hood. The ram air setup came to be known as the "shaker" air cleaner because of the way the scoop would shake in response to changes in engine RPMs. Goose the throttle and watch it move!

This page describes the R-code (ram air) air cleaners used during the 1969 model year. I've created a separate page to describe the shaker scoop assembly since I'm not aware of any differences in the scoop assembly between the 1969 and 1970 model years.

There were two R-code air cleaners used in 1969 due to a mid-year production change. The different air cleaners, their service part numbers, their build (broadcast) sheet codes, and their measurements (as found in the 1975 Master Parts Catalog) are described in this table:

Year & Application

Service Part Number

Build Sheet Code

Measurements

1969 R-code(before 17 February 1969)

C9ZZ-9600-E(replaced by D0ZZ-9600-F)

9Z E

18.83" x 5.50"

1969 R-code(after 17 February 1969)

C9ZZ-9600-F

9Z F

18.83" x 5.50"

1969 R-code Air Cleaner Part Numbers

I believe the MPC measurements are for the complete air cleaner assembly, not the base alone. The actual measurements are closer to 16 3/8" x 2 7/8" for the base and 17 5/8" x 2 5/8" for the midplate. The lid is approximately 14" wide and the scoop is approximately 1 1/2" tall.

The 1969 model year saw a running change that took place around 17 February 1969, when the air cleaner base was changed because of an issue with the automatic choke coming off too soon, causing a driveability and emissions problem. Ford added a vent to the heat tube for the choke to help keep the choke on longer. The choke tube was redesigned to include a tee and a hose was added to connect the tube to a thermal vent mounted in the bowl of the air cleaner. Air cleaners with the thermal vents also had a small strap spot welded to the outer edge of the bowl to support the hose. There change was described in TSB #114, issued on 2 May 1969.

The 1969 base used for R-code cars has a metal elbow in front that's used to link the base to the breather that mounts on top of the driver's side valve cover via a rubber hose. Here's a shot of the 1969 R-code air cleaner:

Here is an example of a later-style, 1969 R-code base. Note the location of the vent (marked in red). The inner raised center of the air cleaner base and underside of the lid was originally painted flat or semi-gloss black. The base was painted the same Ford Dark Corporate Blue as other engine components.

Here are some close-ups of the vent:

1969 Air Cleaner Base Vent, Top

1969 Air Cleaner Base Vent, Bottom

1969 Air Cleaner Base Vent, Bottom Detail

Here is an example of an early-style, 1969 R-code base and shaker. Note the absence of the choke valve in the base. Top view:

Bottom view:

I've heard differing opinions on whether or not the lid used on top of the air filter is supposed to have a sticker or not.

Thanks to Joe Sikora and Marc Tescione for the pictures used on this page.